Type carrier device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure embodies a printing mechanism having a number of separatable type carrying blocks successively arranged for travel along an endless path. Along a linear portion of the endless path between a pair of spaced-apart sprockets is a printing station where the blocks are guided. The blocks are separatable in the sense that they are not physically joined by connectors. Instead they are pushed along their path of travel by a gear which meshes with the blocks. An endless belt connects the sprockets and passes through the blocks. Coupling means on the blocks couple with the belt to provide its drive between the sprockets, the belt in turn dragging the blocks around the sprockets.

United States Patent 3,216,348 11/1965 Oldenburgetal. 3,224,366 12/1965 Cunningham Herbert J. Him/e Detroit, Mich.

July 24, 1969 May 1 1, 1971 Burroughs Corporation Detroit, Mich.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee TYPE CARRIER DEVICE 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I i \11:m 111111111 111 m 111} lOl/lllX 101/111X 3,379,126 4/1968 Staller et al 101/1 11 3,399,619 9/1968 Sims 101/1 11X 3,435,756 4/1969 Martin 101/11 1X 3,499,382 3/1970 Potter et al. 101/93 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerE. M. Coven Attorneys-Edwin W. Uren and Paul W. Fish ABSTRACT: The disclosure embodies a printing mechanism having a number of separatable type carrying blocks successively arranged for travel along an endless path. Along a linear portion of the endless path between a pair of spaced-apart sprockets is a printing station where the blocks are guided.

The blocks are separatable in the sense that they are not physically joined by connectors. Instead they are pushed along their path of travel by a gear which meshes with the blocks. An endless belt connects the sprockets and passes through the blocks. Coupling means on the blocks couple with the belt to provide its drive between the sprockets, the belt in turn dragging the blocks around the sprockets.

Patented May 11, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HERBERT J: HINZE. BY

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4 TTORNE')! vm A m mm mm Patented May 11, 1971 v 3,577,913

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{ mm mm I! k I 22 P 7 2 2 u" my Ii 7 1 mm 7* mm ll mm 28 Pat ented May 11, 1911 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm mm TYPE CARRIER DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in the provision of a belt as a guide for the unattached blocks and the coupling means which conveys the driving forces of the blocks to the belt and the guiding forces of the belt to the blocks.

Prior art discloses type carrier devices with fixed type guides. These guides-and the associated type must be accurately constructed and maintained, which is expensive. Fixed guides also promote type wear, which increases the expense of maintenance. Prior art also discloses flexible bands which both drive and guide type. The type must be rigidly and. accurately attached to the bands, resulting respectively in relatively high stress in the band, thus promoting inaccuratetype displacement, and expensive construction and maintenance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a type carrier device where an endless and flexible belt is driven by the type it is guiding.

It is another object of the invention to provide a type carrier device that eliminates the need: for completely fixed type guides.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a type carrier device which is relatively inexpensive to constructand maintain.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a type carrier device. wherein type wear due to guidance is greatly reduced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a type carrier device wherein the type positioning is determined by the dimension of the type blocks, thereby increasing the accuracy of the type displacement or spacing.

It is yet another object ofv this invention to provide a type carrier device wherein the type is loosely coupled to a flexible band, thereby reducing the stress in the band. and the construction and maintenance expense.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side view of a type carrier device embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of he deviceof FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of. FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of themrows 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of one of the type blocks shown removed from the device of FIG. I; and

FIG. 7'is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring first to FIG. I, the printing mechanism shown has a horizontal base 10 supporting an elongated: horizontally disposed mounting 12. A pair of horizontally spaced-apart sprockets 14 and 16 are rotatably mounted on the mounting 12 respectively adjacent opposite ends thereof and connecting.

the sprockets is an endless .guide member or toothed belt 18;

As shown in FIG. 3, the elongate mounting is spaced above the base plate 10 by mounting. brackets 20 and. bolted or otherwise secured'to the underside of the mounting is a plate- .type platen 22. the platen 22 preferably extends from one end of: the:elongate mounting to the other, as shown in FIG. 1. A pair of laterally disposed spacers-24' and a lower plate 26 together with the platen 22 define a guideway 28 whichpreferably extends along the length of the platen. The guideway 28, the sprockets I4 and. 16, andthe upper mounting surface as at 30 define a path of travel for type-carrying blocks 32. The guideway 28 supports and guides the blocks 32 at a printing station which includes printing hammers 34 located below the base plate 10.

The blocks are successively distributed about their path of travel and are separatable in the sense they are not'physically connected together. Instead the blocks 32, except-those-that the blocks 32 passing through the printing station guideway 28; and, as will later by understood, the guideway extends only along the printing station. For the remaining partof the path of travel of the blocks, the belt 18 function as the guide for the blocks 32. In the bottom guideway plate there is a guide slot 37toreceive downwardly directed lugs 33 on the underside of each block, the lugs being provided with downwardly facing printing type.

The belt I8 passes through the blocks 32, and the belt l8-is wider than the sprockets 14 and 16 such that opposite margins of the belt present overhanging toothed portions 40. 'Each'of theblocks 32 is provided with opposite pairs of teeth 39 to engage the overhanging toothed portions 40' of the belt '18. As shown, for example, in FIG. 4, the blocks 32 separate as they pass around the sprockets, which'causes the leading'edges of the belt teeth to effectively contact the trailing edge'shof the block teeth. Thus the drive gear 36, throughthe blocks 32, drives the belt-18; and the belt drags the blocks around the sprockets 14 and 16. Also, the belt 18 guides the blocks 32-as thelatter slide along the upper slideway 30, since the belt 18 passes through the blocks, thus eliminating any need for a side edge guideway;

OPERATION With reference to FIG. 1, assuming the device is inoperation, the drive gear .36, which maybe driven by any wellknown business machine motor, rotates in the, direction indicated. The driving teeth 35 engage theteeth 38 on the type. blocks forcing-the blocks 32 along the'guideway 28since the block spacing. pads- 31 abut each other; The downwardly directed lugs 33 extend through the guide slot 37 in the bottom guideway plate 26 and the downwardly facing printing type provided on the lugs 33 is thus brought into effective relation with respect to the'printing. hammers 34 located-below the base plate 10, the'type spacing being established by the abutting type block-spacing pads 31. I

As the type blocks 32traverse the guideway 28, the leadingv edges of their opposite pairs of teeth 39 effectively contact the trailing tooth edges-of the overhanging toothed portion v40 of the belt 18, dragging it along with the type blocks 32. After the; type blocks 32 exit the guideway 28, the leading tooth edges of theoverhanging-toothed portion 40 of thebelt 18 effectively contact the trailing edges of the block teeth 39; and the belt 18 fectively contact'the trailing edges of the block teeth 39; andthebelt l8'drags:the type blocks 32, here again separated from each .other, around the sprocket 16. The central toothedportion of the belt l8-engages the teeth of the sprocket l6-and forces it to rotate.

After-passing around the sprocket 16, the type;blocks 32 once again'enter the guideway 28 to effectively pass the drive gear 36. The driving teeth 35 engage the teeth 38-on the type blocks 32, forcing the blocks 32 alongthe guideway-28 to begin another cycle.

I claim:

1. Printing mechanism comprising a lower elongate horizontal slideway, an upper elongate horizontal'slideway overlying said lower elongate slideway, and' substantially parallel;

therewith, a pair ofsprockets spaced apart respectively at the corresponding ends of said' lowerand upper slideways, said pair of sprockets and said upper and lower slideways defining an endless path, a plurality of separable type carrying blocks successively distributed alongsaid path and slidably supported on said slideways, an endless toothed belt connecting said sprockets, drive means cooperable to push said blocks in abutting relation along said slideways, and coupling means on said blocks cooperable with said toothed belt between said sprockets to effect the driving of said belt by said blocks and at said sprockets to effect the guiding of said blocks around said sprockets by said belt.

2. In a printing mechanism, as defined by claim 1, wherein said coupling means on said blocks comprises teeth disposed inwardly of the teeth on said belt to engage effectively therewith,

3. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein said belt has opposite margins respectively overhanging opposite sides of said sprockets to mesh with the coupling means on said blocks.

4. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has a clearance opening therethrough to receive said belt and said coupling means includes laterally positioned teeth carried by and within said block to engage the teeth of said belt.

5. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has a pair of opposite spaced apart arms straddling said belt, and oppositely disposed pairs of teeth on said arms respectively to engage effectively the teeth of said belt at the sprockets.

6. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has external teeth engageable by said drive means to push the blocks. 

1. Printing mechanism comprising a lower elongate horizontal slideway, an upper elongate horizontal slideway overlying said lower elongate slideway, and substantially parallel therewith, a pair of sprockets spaced apart respectively at the corresponding ends of said lower and upper slideways, said pair of sprockets and said upper and lower slideways defining an endless path, a plurality of separable type carrying blocks successively distributed along said path and slidably supported on said slideways, an endless toothed belt connecting said sprockets, drive means cooperable to push said blocks in abutting relation along said slideways, and coupling means on said blocks cooperable with said toothed belt between said sprockets to effect the driving of said belt by said blocks and at said sprockets to effect the guiding of said blocks around said sprockets by said belt.
 2. In a printing mechanism, as defined by claim 1, wherein said coupling means on said blocks comprises teeth disposed inwardly of the teeth on said belt to engage effectively therewith.
 3. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein said belt has opposite margins respectively overhanging opposite sides of said sprockets to mesh with the coupling means on said blocks.
 4. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has a clearance opening therethrough to receive said belt and said coupling means includes laterally positioned teeth carried by and within said block to engage the teeth of said belt.
 5. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has a pair of opposite spaced apart arms straddling said belt, and oppositely disposed pairs of teeth on said arms respectively to engage effectively the teeth of said belt at the sprockets.
 6. In a printing mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said blocks has external teeth engageable by said drive means to push the blocks. 